With Sam Bennett's first race coming up later this month, Bora-Hansgrohe head of performance Dan Rolland said the Irish sprinter is much further along than he was at the start of 2022, raising hopes for a strong season.

Bennett spoke to a small number of journalists before Christmas and expressed quiet confidence that he had ended a difficult 2022 in the best possible way with two stage wins at the Vuelta a España.

He said then that he believed he was in a good position going into the new season. A few weeks later, Roland agreed.

"Sam is doing well. 'He can do everything he needs to do and he's getting a lot of minutes so far. He can do everything he needs to do, and he's putting in a lot of hours so far.

"In the first race you always have to get used to the rhythm, but it doesn't look like you need to worry."

Twelve months ago, Bennett was still reeling from the effects of a lingering knee problem that derailed much of the 2021 season and cost him a chance to defend the Tour de France green jersey. The injury put him on the back burner for most of 2022 and kept him out of the Tour.

But now, as a new season is about to begin, Rolland said Bennett is in a much better position than he was 12 months ago.

"He's taking a step forward now. He will have a full season in 2022 and he is pain free now.

"It's hard to say (exactly where he is) because he's still training hard and then we'll know. But I would say he has taken a big step forward from last year."

Bennett will compete in the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina starting January 22. There, he will have several chances to contend for sprint finishes, and he will have another chance at the UAE Tour starting February 20.

"San Juan is a good start to get into a rhythm," said the UAE's Daniella. And the UAE is always a big target for sprinters, and [performing there] will give Sam confidence throughout the year."

Bennett will no doubt be fired up for this event, having won three previous stage victories. Last year, by his own admission, he finished second and third in the stages, despite being far from his usual form.

Bennett and Roland have been a duo for many years, but the duo was interrupted when the Irish rider spent two seasons with Quick Step. Bennett eventually returned to Bora-Hansgrohe, citing the Luxembourg coach as one of the main reasons for his return.

"My best legs were when I was working with Dan Rolland," he said last spring. 'The year I left (2019), I think I took part in about 20 sprints, only three of which were outside the top three, and I won 13 of them, and that was with Dan.' Dan knows that he can really put me in top condition."

However, Rolland will no longer be directly coaching riders this season, instead working as Bora Hansgrohe's performance director.

Speaking to Cyclingnews on Sunday, Paolo Artuso will replace Bennett as coach in 2023. The Italian previously worked for Bahrain Victorious and Team Novo Nordisk and is now responsible for leading sprinter training.

Rolland reassures those who think the change might affect Bennett's form.

"I don't think it will have a negative impact," he said. I'm still on the team and can watch every rider develop."

Bennett hopes to greatly improve on the three wins he earned in 2022, and while it is unclear where his Grand Tour chances lie in 2023, his development into the GC team continues with Beulah Hansgrohe, who he unseated in last year's Tour, and the Giro d'Italia Alexandre Vlasov and last year's Giro winner Jai Hindley lead the way at the Tour.